Bill Tieleman is one of BC's best known communicators, political commentators and strategists.
Bill is a political panelist regularly on CBC Radio and TV in BC and with other media.
Bill has been Communications Director in the B.C. Premier's Office and at the BC Federation of Labour.
Bill owns West Star Communications, a consulting firm providing strategy and communication services for labour, business, non-profits and government.

This evening I received the following Green Party news release directly from Carr. It does not deal at all with Dauncey's suggestions but in the interest of fairness I am publishing it in full:

Thursday October 9, 2008

Elizabeth May Says No To Strategic Voting

On Tuesday, Canada needs to elect Green Party MPs, leader Elizabeth May said today.

“Media reports and suggestions from other parties that I am urging strategic voting across the country or that backroom deals are being made are complete nonsense,” Ms. May said. “As I have said over and over, strategic voting is generally not a sound strategy at all and I do not support it. Canada needs to elect Green MPs. “

Ms. May was responding in particular to the headline and opening of a Globe and Mail story that directly contradicts what she said to the reporter.

“I clearly said that voting strategically as advice is pretty useless. I also said: ‘Suggesting one should jump away from the Green Party is very bad advice indeed.’

“We have a strong team of candidates across Canada. Every one of them is working hard to win and this much we know for sure: Canada needs Green MPs. I intend to win in my riding of Central Nova and I want to be joined by a strong caucus of MPs, like Adriane Carr in Vancouver Centre, Blair Wilson, Mike Nagy, Dick Hibma, , John Fryer, Huguette Allen and others. We are running strong campaigns across this country.”

“The best outcome of the election will be the defeat of the Harper government and the election of as many Green MPs as possible.”Ms. May noted that support for her leadership, and the Green Party and its forward-looking policies continue to rise.

“Perhaps what is worrying the other parties is the strong support the Green Party has received from Canadians in this election. In this election we will elect our first MPs.

“I want to do politics in a much different way, with collaboration, civility and respect. But I am not making deals with other parties, and the Greens are not in discussions with other parties.

“I will say it once again so absolutely no one can be confused or misled: I want Canadians to elect Green MPs.”

Good for Adriane and Elizabeth for responding without ever mentioning that ne'er-do-well Dauncey. Again, I repeat, he should leave BC and head for the deep south (Missouri,perhaps) where others of his ilk thrive.

One wonders if the lady has been off her meds recently? Sure she got herself on the debate but possibly it swelled her head a little bit.Voting green might bring in 1.75 per vote but little else. But the 1.75 will keep them going till next time I guess

I wonder how many Liberal Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae supporters will be casting their votes for Jack Layton in this election. Supporting Layton is the best way to ensure a Harper minority government. Then, the Liberals can come back in the next election with a leader in 2009 and win the election.

Hi BillJust got around to watching Voice of Bc this evening. Justine Hunter, from the Globe and Keith Baldrey both said there will be no green MP. I figure they are pretty accurate. Ms. May will not beat McKay and the kicked out Liberal will crash and burn in west Vancouver. Oh but those 1.75 add up.The greens are doing a phone around today with a automated message. I hear the first six words and hung up. As Palmer said a number of times, get out there and vote as he mentioned some past races that were very close. Only ones he missed was Hitler and his one vote and closer to home Landslide Passerel Only about four more elections in the next month

Whew! Thanks for pointing that out. I guess one should actually read the banner rather than quickly scan past it. I thought E. May had undergone an extreme makeover at the same time she was having her foot sugically removed from her mouth.

We sure hope bunnykins doesn't put money down on her prediction about the greens as it defies the predictions of most political consultants. " Hope springs eternal". By the way were you the green who phoned me yesterday or was that the local candidate with a canned message? The 1.75s add up so you can keep struggling a long til next time. It's weird the number of other parties who tell me they are really green members but are working on someone elses campaign

I really respect May and how she and the party have been able to raise the Green Party profile. However, she is being disingenuous by stating she's never had a deal with anyone. She had a deal with Dion & the Liberals not to run a Liberal candidate in her riding.

I understand that the Greens need each & every $1.75 for votes. I read something yesterday that said May didn't want to be known as the Ralph Nader of this election. Well, that's exactly where they are headed. I hope the Greens consider that they could quite likely be seen as bearing some responsibility for the neoConservatives being elected again. I hate like heck that's the case, but in those ridings where there are slim margins, people do need to vote strategically.

This is no longer fun time, it's no longer simple. Quite simply, if Harper & his Conservatives win again, Canada is done. The nation we have known & loved and feel pride in will cease to maintain its' sovereignty and will be subsumed elsewhere (the US & possibly EU). That is what Harper's goal & m.o. are.

Read more here:

Election Issue Alert: Canada's Integration with the EU & United States

To EP - while I appreciate strong partisanship and dedication to the cause of whatever political party one supports, at some point you have to stop drinking the Kool-Aid and start realistically assessing your candidate's chances.

Adriane Carr has done her best but if she even finishes third it will be a significant victory. If Adriane wins I will post an item on this blog saying not only am I terribly, horribly wrong but that hell has literally frozen over.

She even considers numerous Conservatives as “honourary Greens.” The fact that Dion refused to allow his party to run against her, and practically thanked the Liberal MP in West Van when he joined the GP, is really telling of just how supposedly “above partisan aspirations” the so-called “Green” Party really is.

http://www.greenparty.ca/en/releases/04.08.2008b

The GP is little more than an eco-capitalist fraud that acts as a shill for Corporate Canada and its political parties. Period.

BTW, thanks for spelling her name “Nay.” That just about sums her up right.

Bill Tieleman and Senator Larry Campbell, former Vancouver mayor

Jim Sinclair, Cindy Oliver, Ken Georgetti and Bill Tieleman

Bill Tieleman's coverage of the Basi-Virk/BC Legislature Raid Case praised by other journalists:

"This outstanding piece of journalism, in The Tyee, is the work of a journalist who has been deeply involved with this issue from the start and this article should be passed on as far and wide as possible."

"Bill Tieleman from 24 hours . . . . If you want to know about this trial and about this case, you have to read his blog – I mean, that’s just all there is to it – it’s required reading if you want to understand the BC Legislature Raid situation."

- Mike Smyth, columnist, The Province

"The Basi-Virk case....you’ve probably sat through more of these hearings and gone through more of the files and written about it than any other journalist in the province."

- Bill Good, host, The Bill Good Show, CKNW/Corus Radio Network

"Tieleman ...has done a first-rate job covering the trial."

- Paul Willcocks, columnist, the Victoria Times-Colonist

"Tieleman, who marries a considerable journalistic talent with one of the smartest political minds in the province, has been writing more web-exclusive material. And his coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is a must-read -- whether you're an insider or an outsider."

"24 Hours, the Vancouver paper that has been leading the coverage, as well as the hints of conspiracy in B.C."

- Norman Spector, columnist, Globe and Mail

"Although the major media in this circumstance has been giving the case significant coverage, Tieleman's reports on his blog have been outstanding.

The entire cut and thrust of legal wrangling and arguments has been covered and is accompanied by considered analysis.....His blog site coverage of the Basi-Virk trial is the most in depth treatment of one of British Columbia's biggest political scandals."

- Bill Bell, columnist, The North Shore News

"Mr. Tieleman has published online dispatches which, freed from the limitations of newsprint space or broadcast time, can run at length. They also remain available for those select readers who become obsessed with a case also known as Railgate.....

In another bizarre twist to a story with no shortage of them, Mr. Tieleman went to work one day in December only to discover his office had been ransacked. Bookcases had been tipped over and papers strewn, but nothing was missing.

To top it off, a press kit for the self-published novel The Raid, written by a retired military officer in Metchosin and featuring on its cover a photograph from the 2003 police raid, had been left in a conspicuous place."

- Tom Hawthorn, columnist, The Globe and Mail

Nobody has followed the Basi-Virk affair over its past five years with greater diligence than local journalist, Bill Tieleman....Tieleman deserves our thanks, a fistful of journalism awards and some merit citation for citizenship.